Since Nissan unceremoniously removed itself from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show last month, we've wondered just how they planned to unveil the Nissan NV2500 concept scheduled to debut there. Now we know. We're here at Nissan's Farmington Hills, MI design facility where the curtain was just publicly dropped on the heavy duty industrial-style truck van hybrid which features a fully mobile office and enclosed cargo area. This concept forecasts Nissan's intent to enter the commercial vehicle market in the 2011 model year, coinciding with Nissan's 75th anniversary in commercial vehicles world wide.

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The NV2500 Concept is a peek at where Nissan will be going with industrial vehicle and if it's any indication they'll be doing a lot of innovation in the segment. The NV2500 starts off as what is essentially a Nissan Titan with a full sized van body grafted on the back, in plainer terms it's the return of the long-dead panel truck. The side door opens like a traditional forward opening door and combined with a swing up rear body panel makes the cabin open to the outside for easy collaboration with colleagues. The rear section of the vehicle is kept airy with a large skylight with integrated solar panels.

Inside the vehicle is divided up into three cabin segments, Driver and Passenger Zone, Work/Design Station Zone, and Conference Center/Cargo Bay Zone. Up front, the driver and passenger are greeted with a utilitarian setup, fabric seats, navigation system, cubbies, shelves, and lockable storage. The work area is focused on usage for a construction site, so this truck has a workstation with a snazzy looking but ergonomically awkward laser scanner keyboard. Turning around you're faced with the cargo/conference area. There are several neat-o feature here, prominently featured is the open side panel combined with a folding conference table, but perhaps more functional in this customized version are the power tool storage and charging racks in the doors, plentiful 12V outlets, and compressed air hookups for air tools.

Yes, this is a concept, but it's a look at the direction Nissan is heading in when looking at the industrial market. Considering that in the long term, they'll be bringing three commercial vehicles out to market beginning in 2010 you have to wonder what else they have up their sleeves. With the Titan heading to Mexican production by Chrysler, and the Canton, Mississippi plant is freed up for products like the NV2500, commercial suppliers all the way up to class three commercial status should be thinking long and hard about the products they'll have when Nissan hits the market.

At A Glance: Nissan NV2500 Concept

The Nissan NV2500 Concept presents a preview of Nissan North America, Inc.’s
upcoming entry into the growing Commercial Vehicle (CV) market, which launches in
2010 with a lineup that includes vehicles developed specifically for North America.

The NV2500 Concept is designed as a highly capable work vehicle that offers low-
impact solutions to high utility needs. It is configured as a “mobile, on-site
construction office,” equipped with a computer work station, wireless laser blueprint
printer, fold-down conference table, storage compartments, cargo/tool tie-down
racks, a near-six foot walk-through interior height and an awning-style side panel
that opens to create a standing outside work table.

Other features include a front passenger seat swing arm bracket that allows the seat
to be used for both the computer station and the workbench. Along with task-
focused lighting throughout the interior, an oversize fixed glass panel roof with
integrated solar panels provides light and power for auxiliary tools and accessories.

The NV2500 was developed by Nissan Design America, Inc. (NDA) and is built on a
modified Nissan Titan full-size pickup all-steel, fully boxed ladder frame.

Nissan NV2500 Concept Serves as a “Rolling Idea Lab” For Company’s Entry Into North American CV Market

– “On-site Construction Office” Configuration One of Many Possibilities for New Van –

The Nissan NV2500 Concept is, as its dimensions suggest, a multi-tasker of large
order. One of the largest concept vehicles Nissan has ever produced, the NV2500
Concept, offers fresh design and fresh thinking – including a 3-Zone interior and
flexible utility and storage solutions.

Not only does the NV2500 Concept provide an original take on Commercial Vehicle
(CV) design, it also provides a preview of Nissan’s entry into the CV market in North
America. With Nissan CVs already sold in 73 percent of the world’s markets,
including Japan, China, Mexico, Europe, South America, Australia and the Middle East
among others, Nissan will enter the CV business in North America in 2010.

The line will incorporate three all-new products in three years, as well as products
from the global stable. As a result, in the mid-term, Nissan will offer a multi-
segment CV lineup up to class 5 gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR).

The three new products are being developed by Nissan specifically for the North
American market and will be built at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Canton, Miss.
Nissan is investing $118 million to expand Canton’s production to manufacture CVs.

“The Nissan NV2500 is a rolling idea lab – bringing a new perspective to the
Commercial Vehicle segment,” said Bruce Campbell, vice president, Design for
Nissan Design America, Inc., which developed the NV2500 Concept. “We see the
NV2500 Concept as an ongoing exploration of ways to make these vehicles more
than just a box on four wheels. Our goal is to enhance utility through creative
design solutions, providing a platform for a wide variety of specific professional
applications.”

In this configuration, the Nissan NV2500 Concept is designed for construction use. It
bears the logo of Habitat for Humanity® only to illustrate the partnership between
Nissan and Habitat. Over the past three years, Nissan has donated $3 million in
cash, vehicles and house sponsorships, along with thousands of hours of work
volunteered by Nissan employees.

“Aside from construction site applications, the NV2500 Concept, with its unique
configuration and array of features, could be used in infinite ways by infinite users.
Whether a mobile Farmers’ Market booth, a hot-air balloon launch or chase vehicle or
to support a beachside surfing school, the usage possibilities of an LCV are endless,”
he said.

A Solid Workhorse Foundation
The NV2500 is conceived first and foremost as a powerful, multi-purpose utility
vehicle. Built on a modified Nissan Titan full-size pickup all-steel, fully boxed ladder
frame, engine choices would be selected for competitive power and fuel efficiency.
Other under-skin components include an automatic transmission and solid rear axle.
The wheels are a special 20-inch billet aluminum design, while the Michelin tires
include a special tread pattern designed for a good payload capacity and fuel
efficiency.

Dimensionally, the NV2500 Concept has a 147.6-inch (12.3-foot)) wheelbase and
measures a full 19.5 feet bumper-to-bumper. It stands 8 feet tall and is 6.6 feet
wide. Inside, from the front of the passenger compartment to rear door, there is
room to carry objects up to 10.5 feet long with the passenger seat moved out of the
way.

The NV2500’s exterior design is highlighted by a wide grille, pronounced wheel
arches, stepped roofline, well-defined fenders and unique window and roof
treatments. Along with wraparound-style windshield/front door windows, the
NV2500 Concept features lower door-glass cutouts and an oversized, fixed-glass roof
panel that stretches from behind the B-pillars to the rear doors – adding a visual
lightness to the design and illumination to the interior.

The NV2500 Concept’s roof panel includes integrated solar panel technology to
power interior equipment, lights and accessories. Additional exterior features include
large, retractable outside mirrors, motorized flip-down AMP Research side and rear
door steps, LED headlights and taillights, and dual-purpose tow hooks located in the
grille that also serve as steps for easier access to the engine compartment.

The most intriguing aspect of the exterior, however, is the multi-use doors. On the
driver’s side, the Titan King Cab-style Wide Open Door offers unfettered access to
the front of the vehicle, with integrated storage compartments for carrying items
such as tool/safety vests, ear protection and first aid kit. In the rear of the NV2500
Concept are vertical 60/40 split cargo access “barn” doors with additional storage
compartments and power rear step for walk-through capability and easy access.

The passenger side features a combination of a 90-degree opening vertical door
directly behind the front passenger door and an awning-style clamshell panel that
hinges upward and locks in place, creating a protected, standing workshop table on
the outside and an open “picture window” view from the fold-down interior work
desk. The passenger side door also has integrated workshop tool storage with fitted
compartments for power saws, drills, screwdrivers and drafting equipment.

“The entire rear wall of the NV2500 Concept opens up so, for example, the
construction supervisor can see and communicate with associates without leaving the
desk,” said Campbell. “It also serves as an additional, flat workspace that is
protected from the elements, providing unlimited flexibility for whatever task might
arise.”

An Innovative 3-Zone Interior
Inside the commanding NV2500 exterior is a 3-Zone interior that combines simple,
organic solutions with elements of advanced technology.

“The NV2500 Concept challenges the traditional thinking regarding show vehicles,
not only in size but in its approach to technology,” said Campbell. “Though it
features a number of high-tech features such as a RearView Monitor, navigation
system and wireless PC, wherever possible we also used ‘lower-tech’ solutions such
as the manually adjusting multi-position passenger/workstation seat and the double-
sided workbench that manually converts from an inside table to an outside work
surface.”

The NV2500 Concept’s front Driver/Passenger Zone is anchored by a wide instrument
panel with a customizable navigation/audio/climate display. The instrument panel
also has an accessory power outlet and a built-in retractable power cord. Overhead
is a full ceiling storage console with visor shelves, center shelves and a cooling fan
that can be powered by the roof-mounted solar cells. Located behind the driver’s
seat is a customizable, lighted storage closet designed to hold hardhats, flashlights
and work boots – complete with a mudroom-style grated floor for drainage.

Additional storage is provided in the center console’s locking compartment and the
instrument panel’s floating shelf. The wide, front-passenger seat can swing rearward
on a sliding arm, manually moving and locking into position in front of the
workstation console located behind the driver’s seat or pivoting toward the work
table. The workstation includes an oversized computer monitor and computer with
laser-projected “easy clean” keyboard.

“The passenger seat functions as both a traditional forward-facing seat and a
comfortable, swiveling desk chair,” said Campbell. “All elements of the interior are
designed to be multi-functional and highly durable, able to stand up to the rigors of
heavy use at a job site or other real world locations.”

As fitting of a true work truck, the centerpiece of the NV2500 Concept is the third
zone, the Conference Center/Cargo Bay Zone. Dressed in its construction office
configuration, this zone includes a fold-down inside/outside workshop table.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (Dec. 4, 2008) – Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today unveiled the Nissan NV2500 Concept at a media event at its Nissan Technical Center North America’s (NTCNA) Michigan headquarters. The NV2500 Concept provides an original take on Commercial Vehicle (CV) design, as well as providing a preview of Nissan’s entry into the CV market in North America.

The Nissan NV2500 Concept offers fresh design and fresh thinking – including a 3-Zone interior and flexible utility and storage solutions. Its “wall-less” mobile office/workspace design includes a computer workstation, fold-down conference table, numerous storage compartments, cargo/tool tie-down racks, nearly six feet of interior height and an awning-style side panel that opens to create a standing outside workshop table. All elements of the interior are designed to be multi-functional and highly durable, able to stand up to the rigours of heavy use at a construction site or other real world locations.

In addition, making its North American debut was the Nissan NV200 Concept, another conceptual depiction of a potential future Nissan commercial vehicle product. The NV200 Concept, which was originally shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, represents a fuel-efficient, delivery-type van and mobile office in one. The NV200 Concept is a cab-forward design with a unique sliding cargo “pod” that extends from the rear to reveal an IT workspace and living quarters.

Nissan will enter the CV business in the United States in 2010 with a product lineup that will incorporate three new products being developed by Nissan specifically for the North American market. These products will be built at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Canton, Miss. Nissan is investing $118 million to expand Canton’s production to manufacture CVs.

The new vehicles will be joined by commercial vehicles from Nissan’s global CV lineup, creating a multi-segment CV lineup up to class 5 gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWR).